Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Lucas stared into the fames. Herarely spoke about his past, but something in Eva’s expression made him want to open doors long kept shut.
“What do you
want to know?” he asked
“Everything. How you mat. What she was like when you were young. Why you never mentioned her before now.”
Lucas took a sip of whiskey. “We met in fourth grade. I was the new kid. My mom had just gotten a job as a housekeeper for the Bradleys, they lived at the end of Maple Street”
“You were poor?” Eva asked, surprise in her voice.
“Dirt poor. My dad left when I was three. Mom cleaned houses, walled tables, whatever it took. We lived in the caretaker’s cottage behind the Bradley house”
Eva’s eyes widened. She had grown up with every privilege, had never know what it meant to go without
“The other kids noticed right away” Lucas continued. “My secondhand clothes. The free lunch tickets. They were merciless. Especially Tommy Greggs and his friends
The pain of those days had dulled but never vanished Success, weath, power, none of it had erased the memory of standing in the schoolyard, surrounded by laughing fao
That’s how I met Amela,” he said his voice softening. It was raining, ketonight. I was waking home because mised the bus hiding in the library to avoid Tommy I was soaked when a car pulled up beside me it was Amella’s mom offering m
He smiled at the memory. “Amela was in the backseat. She wrapped her dry coal around my shoulders and asked if liked chocolate chip cookies.
“Just like that? She was nice to you when no one else was?” Eva asked
“Just like that.” Lucas nodded. The next day at school. Tommy started in on me again during lunch. Called me trash. Said my mom was. He stopped, the words still pantul
“What happened?” Eva prompted
Amelia walked right up to him, this tiny girl with pigtais, and punched him square in the nose.
“Shedid. Blood everywhere. The whole cafeteria ant Lucas laughed. “She looked him dead in the eye and said. If you ever talk about Lucas or his mom again, break more than your nose.”
Chapter 6
Did the get in trouble?”
“Three days‘ suspension. Her parents were horrified, but Amelia never regretted “Lucas shook his head. “No one had ever stood up for me like that before”
That was the beginning?
“That was the beginning Lucas confirmed, “Wfter that, we were inseparable”
Heros and took a small wooden box from the booksha. He opened it and removed a faded photograph.
Eva took the photo carefully. Two children sat on a tree branch legs dangling heads together win grins spling their faces
“You look happy,” Eva said softly
“We were “Lucas’s voice held wonder. Despite everything, my poverty, her parents wealth, we were happy.”
He took back the photo. “We spent every day together. Climbing trees, building forts swimming in the creek In winter, weld have epic snow battles with the righborhood kuds”
The memories flowed easily now. Thelped her with science,
“They didn’t like you?” Eva frowned.
helped me with English. Werode our bikes everywhere, her parents bought me my first bicycle for Christmas when they realized we were going to be friends whether they approved or not?
They were…concemed,” Lucas said diplomatically. “The Thomases were quite wealthy. Her father managed the town’s main bank, her mother taught piano to the alte famies. They lived in one of those big houses on Hill Street. They wanted Amells to make table friends.”
“That’s awid “Eva said.
“That was life” Lucas shrugged. “But Amella wouldn’t be swayed. She stuck me into their house when they weren’t home Left food in her treehouse for me. When my mom was sick on Amela stole food from her parents‘ kitchen every day to make sure we had enough” He pulled out another photo, two teenagers in graduation caps. “By high school, her parents had accepted me. They saw was serious about school, getting good grades. Mr Thomas even helped me apply for scholarships”
“You protected each other Eva observed
Lucas nodded. “She defended me from bulies. I protected her from other dangers.”
“What dangers?”
Chapter 6
Lucas’s expression darkened “Boys who wouldn’t take no for an answer Once, a man followed her home from the library, I broke his nose and two fingers
“Dad“Eva locked shocked
steen, Lucas said, unapologetic. “And he had tried to pull her into his car”
Eva’s shock turned to understanding. “You kept her safe”
1tried “Lucas sighed. “High school was complicated. We were still best friends, but things were changing
“You fell in love with her,” Eva said softly
Lucas didn’t answer directly. “Junior year Amelia started dating. Nothing serious, a football player, the student body president. I dated too. Mostly to distract myself”
From your feelings for her Eva pressed.
Lucas met his daughter’s eyes. “Yes”
“Did she know?”
No At least, I dont think so “He emptied his glass. “We never talked about it. We were heading to different colleges. She was going to study tow at Stanford had a scholarship to MIT
But you ended up at Stanford too” Eva said.
Lucas nodded “deferred MIT for a year, worked three jobs, then transferred to Stanford
“To be near her” Eva aid softly
To be near her Lucas confirmed Those first months apart were unbearable I missed her kest
He mood and moved to the window. But when I got to Stanford, everything had changed. She was dating Richard by then
The name bitter on his tongue Handsome charming Richard Parker with his sports car and hus famly money. The
golden bo
1boy who had everything handed to hom
Lucas’s Band’s clenched hated him from the moment I met him. Hired now he talked down to everyone, how he treated Amela Me a trophy ” the moment I met him. Hated
Whig dat sha may mil han?” Een asked
Chapter b
Lucas shook his head. “He knew how to charm her when needed. Flowers, jewelry, fancy dinners Hed mess up, then show up with some grand gesture”
He turned back to his daughter. And he was smart. He figured out 1 was a threat. Made surel was secluded from the socialcrck Scheduled romantic weekends when he knew Amelia and I had plans. Slowly drove a wedge between us.
“That’s awful” Eva whispered
“Thats love and wac Lucas said grimly. “And Richard was winning. By junior year, Amelia was talking about dropping out of law school to marry him”
Did you ever tell her how you det?”
The question hung heavy in the air, Lucas closed his eyes, remembering that final day, the graduation party, Amelia showing off her engagement ring
“No,” he said finally never told her.”
“Why not?” Eve’s voice held confusion.
Tecause she had made her choice,” Lucas said simply “She chose Richard. She loved him, or thought shedd.”
So you just gave up?” Disbelief colored as VOICE.
1 set her free“Lucks.comected congratulated them, gave them a wedding gift I couldn’t afford and focused on building my future”
“Without her Eva sad softly.
“Without her Lucas agreed. 1 dropped out of Stanford, moved to Silicon Valley, lived in a garage while coding my first software
Eva was quiet for a moment. “And M
does she fit into all this?”
Lucas’s expression softened “Your mother was extraordinary. We met at a conference just one year after Amelia got married I was already successful by then, my first company going public”
Did you love her Eva asked, her voice smal
Lucas sat beside his daughter, taking her hands in his “. Not the same way I loved Amelia, that was young, desperate. What your mother and I had was deeper in many ways. More mature. But on mutual respect and friendship”
But Amel was always there in the background,” Eva guessed
Π
Lucas nodded slowly Duna knew She once told me that everyone has a ghost they carry and Amelia was one
Chapter 6
I’m proud of you, Dad” she whispered. But still think you should tel
Lucas stiffened Tra.
About everything”
She pulled back, looking up at him “Not right away. Not while she’s stal shattered
eventually. Before she makes any decisions about her future”
“The truth might send her running, Lucas said voicing his deepest fear.
#her.”
“Or I might be exactly what she needs to hear,” Eva counted. “A woman who’s been led to for twenty years deserves complete honesty from the man who claims to lovel
The words struck Lucas la blow. His carefulmonitoring of Amelia, his “chance” encounter on the bridge seen differently, his actions could appear disturbing rather than protective
“think about the promised
Eva nodded, seemingly satisfied. “It’s late should get to bed. She kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, Dad Thank you for telling me about Amelia,
‘Goodnight sweetheart.” Lucas repled, watching as his daughter left
Alone again, he sank back into his char, emotionally drained Speaking those memores aloud had made them achingly real again, the joy of their friendship, the agony of watching her choose Richard, the quiet resignation of letting her go
His gaze fell on the photo stil in his hand, two sing teenagers with the whole es ahead of them, unaware of the paths that would separate them
What would have happened if he’d spoken up that day? he’d told Amelia he loved her Before Richard appeared?
The question had haunted him for twenty years. Now, with Amela under his root took on new urgency.
A second chance. That’s what fatehad given him
But Eva’s words echoed in his mind. A woman whok been led to for twenty years deserves complete honesty.
Lucas placed the photo back in its bor. The past wart past, beautiful painful, unchangeable. The future, however, remained unwan
And this time, he wouldn’t let
dance hin
This time, when Amelia was ready he would: her everything
Even of the truth cost him any chance of keeping
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
and is burning a hole in my pocket
“You need more than basics,” Eve insisted as she guided Amela through the mall entrance Dad’s credit cards burning a hok
Amela hesitated. “Just a few things. Nothing fancy”
The mall buzzed with shoppers. Music played softly as they walked past shops with bright displays
Lots start there” Eva said, pointing to a boutique. Inside, she moved with confidence, selecting items for Amela’s approval & blue cardigan Back pants A creambleuse
Amelia ran her fingers over a burgundy dress. The fabrice nous against her skr
“When was the last time you shopped for yourself? Just for you, not for something with Richard Eva asked
I don’t remember”
In the fitting room, Amelia stared at her reflection, eyes shadowed with exhaustion shoulders slightly hunched. The burgundy dress transformed her Shelaghtened her spine, lifted her chin
“You look beautiful, Eva said when Amelia emerged
Later, they sat at a café surrounded by shopping bags. Despite her intial reluctance, Amelia had enjoyed herse
“Thank you for today” Amela said. “I didn’t realize how much I needed this”
Eva smiled. Everyone needs a fresh start sometimes. New clothes, new haircut.”
Haircut?” Amela touched half–consciously
“Just a thought when was your last style change?”
Before Julia was bom? Richard liked it long”
“Well, Richard isn’t here now. You can wear your hair however you want.”
The truth struck Amalia with unexpected force Fortwenty years, she had dressed and styled herself based preferences. Now she was free.
